– TWG Chapter 19 –

Inside a rowdy bar in the town of Crustavale

“ Hey, hey have you guys heard about it? “

“ This again? If you're talking about the Ravenous Tigers, everyone knows it already. “ The man sitting opposite of him answered lazily while chugging down his beer.

The Ravenous Tigers are the notorious bandit group that ruled the dark side of many cities in the Floating Cloud Continent. Their original name is actually the Raven Tigers who are led by their boss Mad Tiger, but because of their acts, everyone is calling them the Ravenous tigers.

“ Oh, oh...but man~, I was so shocked when I heard about it, who would have thought that those bastards who looked as if they were ruling the world would suddenly collapse in a single night!

“ Yeah, even till now, I still can't swallow it. That mad tiger is a well known 3rd realm warrior, for a figure to lay waste to their base in a single night? Imagine what kind of existence is needed to do such a thing, phew. Just the thought of it makes me shiver in fright. “

“ Bahahaha, forget it man. Such a figure is someone that we would never meet, if I do meet him though, I will immediately kiss his boots in thanks! I will even offer up my daughter to him! “

The other man on the table spitted out in response, “ Bleh, who would ever want that ugly daughter of yours! “

“ Hey! What did you say! “ The man retorted and a small skirmish soon broke out.

What they did not realize that at the corner of the bar, a lone hooded figure is drinking away alone. When he heard that that man was willing to offer his daughter to that ‘expert’, he choked his drink in response..

It was of course, the main perpetrator Li Zun, drinking alone in the corner. Through the use of his Divine Energy, he was able to blend in the surroundings whilst avoiding the attention of anyone.

The topic of Ravenous Tigers have already been circulating since a month ago but it is still in the mouths of many people. This just shows, how cruel and impactful the Ravenous Tigers are to the ordinary people.

But as the culprit of this widespread story, Li Zun isn't very comfortable with the issue itself. It constantly reminded him of the deed he has done, a deed that he..wouldn't have any pleasant memories remembering..

In the edge of the bar, he sighed away and drank lonely. The look in his eyes couldn't hide the reminiscent in his thoughts.

His eyes looked off into the distance as his thoughts reeled back to that day..

~ ~ ~

In a distant place.

At Floating Cloud Continent southernmost part.

Rocky terrains covered this part of land. There were nearly no trees in the vicinity, practically no signs of greenery. Almost not a single sign of life was found in this place.

And yet, in this clearly inhabitable land, an auspicious wide, tracked, road is in place.

As for where exactly did this road leads to, many knows but not many dare to use it.

As the road directly leads to a tall hill within a distance. That particular hill is filled with even more rocks, even more greys, but most notoriously..even more bones and skulls.

At the top of the hill lies an old, abandoned castle in appearance. In spite of it's appearance, lively chatters along with laughters could be heard from miles away.

This was home to the most famed, most notorious bandits in the Southern region of Floating Cloud Continent.

It was home to the Ravenous Tigers.

It was noon, and the day is still bright. And despite the morning sun, drunken and intoxicated men are everywhere within the castle's vicinity. In fact, some of them are naked from top to bottom, indulging themselves to carnal pleasures.

This was a regular sight in the Ravenous Tigers base. And just like any other day, they were spending their days away in depravity.

High up in the castle, a shadow stood behind the window as he looked over at the scene below him.

It was a big, burly man with two sharp teeth pointing out of his mouth, surrounded by countless of bewitching women beside him. The man excluded an air of madness, matching his crude appearance.

He was the the leader of these bandits, the sole reason these bandits are able to act as they pleased and reign terror over the southern lands of Floating Cloud Continent.

He was the infamous Mad Tiger of Ravenous Tigers, an expert warrior of the 3rd realm, a figure that even kings would fear.

" Boss, what is wrong with you today? Are you perhaps feeling unwell ? " One of the women showed her concern as she drapes his loose clothes properly.

" I am fine Veronica, it's just that..these past few days I've been feeling uneasy..watching these idiots down below can put my mood to ease. "

" Ohh, what in the world could ever worry you lord tiger. " Another similarly stunning woman spoke up, these women would never throw away a chance to please him as they were all personal women of Mad Tiger, but being 'personal' today doesn't mean the same tomorrow..

" Heh heh, alright stop right there. I am not feeling that good these days, I want to go back to my room, do not let anyone disturb me. " Said Mad Tiger as he shook off all the women surrounding him and took off to his room.

Lately..he had an extremely bad feeling, a foreboding feeling that tells him to be careful of the coming days.

A foreboding or bad feeing are not anything special. Even ordinary mortals are capable of having a bad feeling or two that will come true. But in the case of strong practitioners, they are usually much more acute than mortals. Whenever they had an uneasy feeling, most of the time, something is about to happen.

As Mad Tiger entered his wide room, he did not tardy around as he sat on his throne seat, deep in thought.

" The King of Risberia had already agreed to sell off 25 villages in his territory to me and the Prime Minister of Sulvokia has also agreed to cooperate regarding the matter of Risberia black goods. Huhuhu, things are all going according to the plan, as long as I keep this up, these 2 will slowly become suspicious of the other, instigating a war between these two kingdoms will not be hard..kuku..”

" Clever aren't you? Mad Tiger. " A voice suddenly interrupted his thoughts.

Mad Tiger abruptly stood up and got into his battle ready form as he shouted, " Who is there?! "

At almost the same time Mad Tiger ended his speech, a blurry figure appeared in the center of the room. The figure is just within his sight, but for some reason, Mad Tiger is unable to make up his facial features at all.

Although Mad Tiger's words seems very domineering, his back had already became drenched in cold sweat. That figure had been in his room the entire time, but he did not notice him at all..

Towards a figure who is able to sneak in so close to him without alerting him at all, just what does that mean?

It means this person is clearly someone beyond his power!

Not to mention that as he chose to so nonchalantly disclose his presence when such a clear opportunity to end him is there, it does not mean that the person is foolish.

It meant, that the person is just that confident in killing him that whether or not he is alerted, he did not care. if he wants him dead, then..he is dead. This, Mad Tiger clearly understood.

" Just who did I offend? The goods were delivered to the Southern Blue Coast last month, Thunderstorms Mountain have received my gift too...Wu Dong sect? couldn't be..."

" Or is it..The Demon Palace? "

When the name " Demon Palace " crossed his mind, Mad Tiger involuntarily shuddered. Demon Palace..amongst Floating Cloud's powerful organizations, it could be considered fairly new.

But it was a place..that not even he, an otherworldly 3rd realm Warrior would dare to offend at all cost.

While Mad Tiger looked as if he acted as he liked and plundered whatever he sees, but in reality, his strength does not solely rely on his muscle alone.

Without him silently cooperating with the higher ups of the Kingdoms, sending gifts to the powerful sects, he wouldn't have been able to act like as he did now.

Only through his dark dealings is he able to stand so lavishly till this day!

" Lord Emperor, may this lowly bandit be enlightened on who exactly did this bandit offend? " Mad Tiger placed his right hand on his left shoulder, a standard noble greeting in Floating Cloud Continent as he quickly bowed on the ground.

The figure sneered in disdain at the prostrating Mad Tiger.

" Heh, the title "Mad" does not fit you at all doesn't it Mad Tiger? Perhaps clever or cunning is a better fit..don't you think so? " The figure mockingly said.

This figure behind the blurry shadows, is of course, none other than Li Zun.

Li Zun knew that for an arrogant 3rd realm warrior like Mad Tiger, none of them could possibly not experience the feeling of being a figure standing above others, just like a politic leader of his previous life.

To be able to throw away his pride so quickly when he sensed that he wouldn't be able to beat him.. How could li Zun not realize just how cunning and intelligent this so called 'mad' tiger actually is.

" This lowly bandit do not dare, Lord Emperor. " Mad Tiger replied briskly, his head facing the ground.

" Oh? So you do know your place. "

" Of course, compared to Lord Emperor, I a mere bandit couldn't possibly be an equivalent. “

" Compared to me? You are wrong. You are not even worth a dirt compared to ordinary people to me. " Scoffed Li Zun, his voice carrying a tone of rage he is not able to keep hidden..

In a flash, a hand grabbed Mad Tiger's head and an invisible energy struck him in the depths of his soul. Mad Tiger did not even have a chance to resist as his eyes blanked out, foams began to rise on his mouth. An invisible, matter-less ball flew out of Mad Tiger's mouth into Li Zun's forehead as Li Zun closed his eyes in response, activating soul scour.

This time, Li Zun could no longer bother to think about soul scour’s negative effects. if this Mad Tiger is someone he could classify as a decent person, he did not want to imagine just what kind of being is evil enough for him.

Sadly for Mad Tiger, he probably had the saddest ending a 3rd realm warrior had ever experienced within a hundred years of Floating Cloud Continent history..